Warner Brothers Insults LOTR and Hobbit Fans With ME: UCE

[JWPlatt]

Where are you getting this this is "an Amazon exclusive" from? As far as I know, based on the materials I've seen from WB, this isn't anything of the sort.

What you know can be different from what industry experts know, which is where I get my sources. Bill Hunt in particular.

See my recent post where I quote the source:
http://www.trekbbs.com/threads/warn...-fans-with-me-uce.283032/page-5#post-11724565

Or Bill Hunt's source article at DigitalBits.com:
http://www.digitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/082416_1645

Anyway, it turns out that the set is indeed Amazon-exclusive...

 

[JWPlatt]

They'll learn or they'll die.

No they won't. Suits have their own agendas, biases, grudges, politics, and pet projects. Warner Brothers is not going to die. We wish they would learn, but by the time they do, it's well known by comments from the likes of David Fincher and Ridley Scott that there is such a high turnover at studios like WB and Fox that it's never the same team. People move on and studios stay stupid because, despite Citizens United, corporations aren't people... but Soylent Green is.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

What you know can be different from what industry experts know, which is where I get my sources. Bill Hunt in particular.

I'm doubtful. If it's Amazon-exclusive, there's no reason for WB to be sending sales sheets about the product to distributors so they can offer it to their accounts. There's no reason for WB to try to get my company to carry it if they're only going to sell it to Amazon. If it's exclusive to Amazon, no one seems to have told WB's sales department. That's why I'm doubtful.

 

[fireproof78]

No they won't. Suits have their own agendas, biases, grudges, politics, and pet projects. Warner Brothers is not going to die. We wish they would learn, but by the time they do, it's well known by comments from the likes of David Fincher and Ridley Scott that there is such a high turnover at studios like WB and Fox that it's never the same team. People move on and studios stay stupid because, despite Citizens United, corporations aren't people... but Soylent Green is.

We shall see.

 

[Mike Farley]

No one appears to have told Barnes and Noble it's an Amazon exclusive. They're offering the set with a slightly smaller discount on their website.

 

[JWPlatt]

I'm doubtful. If it's Amazon-exclusive, there's no reason for WB to be sending sales sheets about the product to distributors so they can offer it to their accounts. There's no reason for WB to try to get my company to carry it if they're only going to sell it to Amazon. If it's exclusive to Amazon, no one seems to have told WB's sales department. That's why I'm doubtful.

No one appears to have told Barnes and Noble it's an Amazon exclusive. They're offering the set with a slightly smaller discount on their website.

Interesting! I've put in an inquiry. Does the B&N set have the same swag? Smaller discount? Yikes. Is there a B&N link for that online?

 

[Avro Arrow]

^ The Barnes and Noble website now comes with one of those new-fangled "search" functions.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd...collectors-edition/30262330?ean=0883929477128

And look, Best Buy has it too:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/middle-...ray-disc/32056932.p?id=3628430&skuId=32056932

(and $40 cheaper than Amazon! Lock in those savings now, people!)

Although I note that Amazon has the release date as Oct 4, and B&N and BB both list Nov 1, so perhaps Amazon has an initial month of exclusivity, before the release goes wide.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Although I note that Amazon has the release date as Oct 4, and B&N and BB both list Nov 1, so perhaps Amazon has an initial month of exclusivity, before the release goes wide.

It's possible, but I lean toward Amazon having the date wrong. I took a look at the sell sheet I received from WB on the 16th. Orders are due to WB on September 27th, with a street date of November 1st.

 

[JWPlatt]

What you see is still consistent with an Amazon-exclusive.

I believe it’s exclusive initially to Amazon, but then goes wide later.

 

[Marsden]

It seems that it's a general rule that WB never provides any nourishment for its cash cows and then wonders why the milk stops flowing and there are nothing but rotting carcasses in the field.

As a long suffering B5 fan, I hear that!

 

[Gaith]

At this point, all I really want from WB in the Tolkien area is a full-scale Rivendell to walk around in. I'm sure they could find some cheap and suitable land in, say, the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Is that so much to ask?!

(And yeah, I know that with the legal issues with the Tolkien Estate, the answer is almost certainly Yes. Sigh...)

 

[fireproof78]

At this point, all I really want from WB in the Tolkien area is a full-scale Rivendell to walk around in. I'm sure they could find some cheap and suitable land in, say, the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Is that so much to ask?!

(And yeah, I know that with the legal issues with the Tolkien Estate, the answer is almost certainly Yes. Sigh...)

I have a feeling that Christopher Tolkien will have some interesting provisions in his will regarding Hollywood and his father's work.

Also, isn't New Zealand keeping up Hobbiton?

 

[Gaith]

^ Actually, given the litigation between the Estate and WB over such things as LotR-themed casino slot machines, it's probably what Tolkien didn't write down, either in his will or in the sale of the Hobbit and LotR film rights, that's the interesting stuff.

And yes, Hobbiton is being maintained, from what I recall, and that's all very well and good, but I'd rather have a Rivendell, complete with hidden speakers playing Shore's music, and costumed Elf extras wandering around.

 

[WebLurker]

^ Actually, given the litigation between the Estate and WB over such things as LotR-themed casino slot machines, it's probably what Tolkien didn't write down, either in his will or in the sale of the Hobbit and LotR film rights, that's the interesting stuff.

And yes, Hobbiton is being maintained, from what I recall, and that's all very well and good, but I'd rather have a Rivendell, complete with hidden speakers playing Shore's music, and costumed Elf extras wandering around.

Nah, I'd say recreate Bree and the Prancing Pony, personally.

 

[JWPlatt]

Game of Thrones brothels would sell better.

 

[Marsden]

Walking around Rivendell would be awesome.

Maybe they can make Lothlorien, too?

I'd like to visit The Lonely Mountain, after Dain II got it fixed up and Bard is king of Dale, of course, not during Smaug's residency.

 

[fireproof78]

^ Actually, given the litigation between the Estate and WB over such things as LotR-themed casino slot machines, it's probably what Tolkien didn't write down, either in his will or in the sale of the Hobbit and LotR film rights, that's the interesting stuff.

And yes, Hobbiton is being maintained, from what I recall, and that's all very well and good, but I'd rather have a Rivendell, complete with hidden speakers playing Shore's music, and costumed Elf extras wandering around.

And a million dollars while you're at it?

Game of Thrones brothels would sell better.

It's a sad, sad, world we live in, then.

 

[JWPlatt]

Clifford Broadway (Quickbeam) of TheOneRing.Net (TORN) hosted a TORN Tuesday discussion on Tuesday, August 30 with Michael Pellerin, who produced the bonus content for The Appendices on the Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit DVDs and Blu-rays, and Bill Hunt of DigitalBits.com.

They talk about Michael Pellerin's work on the Appendices, and the debacle known as the Middle-earth: Ultimate Collectors Edition.

Bill Hunt writes about the webcast here:
http://www.digitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/083116_1215

The webcast can be seen on TORN's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheOneRingnet/videos/vb.6425769820/10154145606249821/?type=2&theater

The video is static until about the 00:06:30 mark when the webcast begins.

William Kircher (Bifur, the dwarf with the axe in his skull) joins the webcast at about 01:07:00.

 

[Gaith]

the price going still lower, now to $600.

Now $500.

Still way too much, granted, but that's more than a third less than the original quoted price, and the set's still not out.

 

[Set Harth]

WB seems to have Dragon Sickness...